Road drag



July 18, 1939. J. c. JOHNSON 2,156,596

ROAD DRAG Filed Oct. 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Attorneys 7 J. c. JOHNSON 2,166,596

ROAD DRAG Filed Oct. 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wyn?" 1 f M! HHIIIIT] I li-' HIW In ventor A itorneys Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROAD DRAG John C. Johnson, Boswell, Ind.

Application October 20, 1938, Serial No. 236,077 Claims. 01. 37-177) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in road drags particularly for the dirt or gravel shoulders of highways and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner 5 as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is adapted to be mounted directly 7 in front of a truck, tractor or other power vehicle in a manner to be pushed thereby.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a road drag of the aforementioned character which, in addition to treating the shoulders of the highway, also includes novel means for cleaning the adjacent portion of the highway itself of dirt, loose gravel, etc.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a road drag of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of an em-, bodiment of the invention, the highway cleaning blade being shown in broken lines.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the device.

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of the highway cleaning blade.

Figure 5 is a detail view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a frame of suitable material which is designated generally by the reference numeral I. The frame I includes a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinal side bars 2 having downturned rear end portions 3 between which a rod 4 extends. The frame I further includes the transversely extending member 5 on the side members 2 adjacent the downturned end portions 3 thereof. Mounted diagonally on the forward ends of the side members 2 and projecting beyond said side members is a bar 6.

The rod 4 is journalled in a suitable supporting structure I which projects forwardly from beneath the front end portion of a motor truck 8. It will thus be seen that the frame I is detachably mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane directly in front of the truck 8.. Mounted on a suitable supporting structure 9 on the front of the truck 8 is a power lift ID. The power lift Ii] is connected, as at II, to eye bolts I2 on the rear portions of the side bars 2 :5 of the frame I. I

Mounted diagonally beneath the supporting frame I is what may be referred to as a blade frame which is designated generally by the reference numeral I3. frame I3 is connected to the projecting end portions of the bar 6 of the frame I by chains Id. The chains I4 may be adjusted in any suitable manner. Chains I5 connect the rear end portion of the blade frame I3 to the'side bars 2 of the supporting frame I. It will thus be seen that the blade frame I3 is floatingly mounted beneath the supporting frame I. I

The blade frame I3 comprises spaced, parallel side and intermediate bars I6 and II, respectively, 20 of angle iron. The angle iron bar I'I, it will be observed, is reversed relative to the bars It. Mounted beneath the bars I6 of the blade frame F3 are metallic brackets 21 to which the end portions of angle iron beams I3 are fixed in any 25 suitable manner, such as by welding. It will be observed that the beams I8 extend diagonally relative to the frame I. It will also be noted that the construction and arrangement of the brackets 21 is such that the beams I8 are mount- 30 ed at an inclination. This is shown to advantage in Fig. 5 of the drawing. The intermediate bar I! may be fixed to the beams I8 by welding. Rigidly secured in any suitable manner on the beams I8 and depending therefrom are inclined 35 shoulder blades I9. The intermediate bar I! of the blade frame I3 is mounted on the beams I8. The blade frame I3 further includes a brace member 20 depending between the intermediate bar I! and one of the outer bars I6. Rising from 40 the rear end portion of the bar I1 is a post 28 of angle iron which abuts the inner side of the adjacent member 2 of the frame I for positively preventing the rear end of the blade frame I3 from swinging outwardly, or to the right, beyond 45 a predetermined point.

Hingedly mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the left hand side of the frame I3 is a highway cleaning blade which is designated generally by the reference numeral 50 2|. The highway cleaning blade 2| comprises an angle iron bar 22 on which the blade itself is fixed and on which are secured arms 23. The arms 23 project at right angles to the bar 22 and said arms are hingedly mounted on the left hand The front end of the blade bar I6 of the frame l3, as at 24. The blade 2| further includes an angularly projecting rear end portion 25 which extends inwardly beneath the frame I and behind the frame l3. A chain 26 suspends the blade 2| from a horizontal arm 29 on top of the adjacent bar I 6 for limiting the downward swinging movement of said blade and for lifting same with the blade frame I3. It will be observed that the major portion of the blade 2| parallels the frame l3 and terminates, at its forward end, adjacent the front end. of said frame l3.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. The drag is pushed over .the shoulder of the highway, the diagonal blades I9 throwing the loose gravel toward the edges of the highway. It may be well to here state that the power vehicle 8 travels over the shoulder of the highway directly behind the drag and, of course, pushes said drag. It will thus be seen that the power vehicle 8 is out of the way of traific moving on the highway. While the blades l9 move the material inwardly or toward the highway, the blade 2| travels on the marginal portion of said highway and throws dirt, gravel, etc., thereon outwardly or in the opposite direction onto the shoulder. Through the medium of the power lift I0, which is controlled from the operators seat of the power vehicle, the drag may be conveniently raised out of engagement with the highway when desired.

It is believed that themany advantages of a road drag constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A road drag of the character described. comprising a supporting frame mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane in front of a power vehicle, a blade frame mounted diagonally beneath the supporting frame, a plurality of spaced, parallel diagonal blades fixed beneath the second named frame, and flexible elements loosely connecting said second named frame to the supporting frame.

2. A road 'drag of the character described 7 comprising a supporting framemounted forswinging movement in a vertical plane on the front of a power vehicle, a blade frame mounted diagonally beneath said supporting frame, flexible elements loosely connecting the blade frame to the supporting frame, said blade frame comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel longitudinal members and further including a purality of spaced, parallel diagonal members extending between the first named members, and blades fixed on the second named members.

3. A road drag of the character described comprising a supporting frame mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the front of a power vehicle and including a pair of spaced,

. parallel side members, said supporting frame further including a bar mounted diagonally on the forward ends of the side members and projecting outwardly therefrom, a blade frame mounted diagonally beneath the supporting frame, flexible elements connecting the forward end of said blade frame to the projecting end portions of the bar, flexible elements connecting the rear end of the blade frame to the side members of the supporting frame, and a plurality of spaced, parallel di agonal blades mounted beneath the blade frame.

4. A road drag of the character described com prising a supporting frame mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the front of a power vehicle, a blade frame mounted diagonally beneath the supporting frame and floatingly connected thereto, a plurality of spaced, parallel, diagonal blades secured beneath the blade frame, a diagonal blade mounted on one side of the blade frame in parallelism therewith and at right angles to the first named blades, and a flexible element connecting the second named blade to the blade frame.

5. A road drag of the character described comprising a supporting frame mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the front of a power vehicle, a blade frame mounted diagonally beneath the supporting frame and floatingly connected thereto, a plurality of spaced, parallel, diagonal blades secured beneath the blade frame, a diagonal blade hingedly mounted on one side of the blade frame in parallelism therewith and at right angles to the first named blades, and a flexible element connecting the second named blade to the blade frame, said second named blade comprising an angularly projecting rear end portion extending beneath the supporting frame and behind the first named blades.

JOHN C. JOHNSON. 

